About IDEMS

IDEMS develops community-serving deep tech innovation that unlocks local knowledge across systemic complexity for unprecedented global impact

IDEMS is a technology social enterprise founded in 2018 by mathematical scientists on the belief that inclusive ambitious tech innovation was needed to address the urgent social, environmental and economic challenges that disproportionately affect marginalised and low-resource communities around the world.

IDEMS develops innovative sociotechnical digital infrastructure, products and interventions that enable underserved communities globally to access proven expert-developed solutions and interventions—and contribute local knowledge, best practices and new ideas—for groundbreaking collaborative “collective intelligence” intervention innovation. Designed to work in, for and across variable low-resource contexts, IDEMS’ inclusive, sustainable digital innovation is built for interoperable, adaptive scaling across global variability.

IDEMS innovation emerges from long-term, research-based applied collaborations. Our expert mathematical scientists embed with global experts, NGOs and local communities to develop digital solutions and interventions able to responsibly, adaptively scale to address global grand challenges—the complex development problems (sometimes also referred to as “wicked problems”) that are impervious to simple, one-size-fits-all solutions and ill-served by most existing tech platforms and services.

Across collaborations, IDEMS is gaining the visibility and insight to develop a suite of community-serving “common tech” digital products that are an inclusive, responsible alternative to mainstream solutionist tech. Our common tech product suite builds on pioneering research-based mathematical innovation to introduce foundational low-skill digital infrastructure that enables non-technologist stakeholders to collaboratively develop, adapt and iterate pioneering tech solutions that can scale in global complexity. Communities gain and maintain local ownership and control—and bypass existing solutionist tech, designed and gatekept by siloed technologists.

IDEMS is a home for purpose-driven mathematical scientists developing impact innovation at the intersection of mathematical and social complexity. We attract top mathematical scientists by offering a challenging and rewarding “third way” career path as an alternative to traditional careers in academia or commercial business.

Our deep experience in developing, and creating new opportunities for, next-generation global mathematical talent from secondary school through to the postdoctoral level helps us create our own pipeline of highly skilled, expert talent.

A talented global team

IDEMS is a home for PhD mathematical scientists, social scientists, and applied technologists who are helping realize the potential of technology to work for everyone

David Stern

Director

David is a mathematical scientist and educator, who leads deep tech innovation at IDEMS. As a former lecturer in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Sciences at Maseno University in Kenya and a founding board member of African Maths Initiative (AMI), he cares deeply about inclusive maths education globally.

Kate Fleming

Director

Kate works on everything at IDEMS that shapes how deeply technical innovation meets — and becomes understood, shaped, valued and usable by — communities, users and/or partners for real-world impact.

Danny Parsons

Director

Danny is a mathematical scientist and a founding Director of IDEMS. He has worked on projects in diverse areas including software development, education, climate, agriculture and public procurement.

Lily Clements

Data Scientist and Educator

Lily is a Data Scientist and Educator at IDEMS. She works at the intersection of data tools, education, and social impact  – creating open-source software and accessible resources that make data skills easier to understand, teach, and use responsibly in the real world.

Chiara Facciolà

Common Tech Chatbot Lead

Chiara holds a DPhil in Applied Maths and enjoys working on any problem where mathematical thinking can have a social impact.

Lucie Hazelgrove Planel

Community Research Methods Lead

Lucie supports researchers design and lead effective transdisciplinary research with communities. She is an anthropologist (PhD) with a first degree in mathematics.

Carla Marquez

Quality Assurance Lead

Carla works part time on quality assurance for several IDEMS software development projects, invoicing and Spanish language translation.

Chris Marsh

Common Tech Lead Developer

Chris Marsh is a Software Development Team Leader at IDEMS. He leads the development of robust, scalable software systems that support social impact across sectors. Chris builds open, adaptable technologies that empower users and domain experts, ensuring complex functionality is accessible and usable across diverse contexts.

Geoffrey Mboya

MSc in Mathematical Innovation Lead

Geoffrey holds a DPhil in Mathematics from the University of Oxford, where he trained as an algebraic geometer. He is leading the development of IDEMS’ innovative postgraduate MSc in Mathematical Innovation in collaboration with the Open University of Kenya.

Johnny McQuade

Software Developer

Johnny works on software for the common good. He is currently focused on the Open App Builder, a flexible tool for building apps for diverse audiences.

Beth Medvecky

Senior Technical Advisor, Agroecology and Rural Development

Beth supports Farmer Research Networks on topics ranging from soil fertility and income generation to pest management. These activities are anchored in the development of Manor House Agricultural centre as a lighthouse for agroecology in Kenya.

Edmund Moss

Software Developer

Ed works for IDEMS part-time as a software developer, supporting the development and deployment of IDEMS’ digital products with a particular focus on chatbots.

Patrick Munyoki

Climate Data Scientist

Patrick works in a variety of African contexts to develop technology that unlocks local climate data to make it usable both locally and in global climate analysis.

James Musyoka

Impact Activation Postdoctoral Fellow

James Musyoka applies his expertise in applied statistics and data analysis to translating climate data into actionable insights that support decision making processes in agriculture across Africa. Driven by his passion to improve data and statistical literacy, he also contributes to training others in these skills to drive social impact.

Elena Okada

Social Impact Project Lead

Elena Okada is a social impact enabler, applying her expertise in project management, business development, and digital product implementation to IDEMS projects for meaningful impact. She enjoys being a catalyst for positive change, turning purpose into impact through structured action and collaboration.

Georg Osang

Impact Activation Postdoctoral Fellow

Georg has a background in mathematics and computer science and is passionate about education. He works on a variety of mostly technical projects and supports our colleagues in Africa in their teaching endeavours.

George Simmons

Impact Activation Postdoctoral Fellow

George combines a background in pure mathematics with a drive for social good, creating impactful, open-source modelling tools and educational programs through transdisciplinary collaboration.

Ian Stride

Senior Software Developer

Ian Stride helps IDEMS to follow good software engineering practices across the whole software development lifecyle

Francis Torgbor

Founder, GHAIDEMS

Francis applies his background in mathematics and statistics to climate resilience, agricultural development, and education initiatives across Africa. He contributes to software development, research, training, and stakeholder engagement, particularly in projects that bridge climate services and social impact. He is passionate about building local capacity and improving local decision-making.

David Whittaker

Social Investment Lead

David Whittaker leads social investment initiatives, developing funding models and approaches to fundraising. He also supports initiatives to unlock local climate data through collaborations with local Meteorological Services offices.

Esmee te Winkel

Common Tech Application Lead

Esmee is a mathematician with a passion for education. Her journey with IDEMS began through her involvement with SAMI Charity, volunteering at Maths Camps in Kenya and Ghana. She’s excited to be part of projects that aim to support young people and broaden their opportunities.